The US Coast Guard has rescued nine workers from a rig fire off the coast of Texas.

The rescue operation took place off the coast of Sabine Pass, a neighbourhood in the Texan city of Port Arthur on 24th February.

Crew members on a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter of US Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Houston carried out a search and rescue operation and successfully airlifted nine uninjured workers to safety.

USCG was informed of a fire on a mobile offshore drilling unit off the coast of Sabine Pass by the dredging vessel Ohio at 12.51pm.

The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a 45-foot Response Boat were immediately sent to the scene to carry out the operation.

Personnel from the Port Arthur Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also took part under the coordination of the USCG Sector Houston command centre.

Rescuers were lowered from the MH-65 Dolphin to help hoist the nine workers to a nearby rig that was accessible by land.

After being transferred to the other rig, the nine workers were attended to by waiting paramedics.

The local authorities confirmed that no one was injured and there are no signs of sea pollution at the site of the blazing rig.

The Port Arthur Fire Department said they will remain at the scene until the blaze has burned out.

USCG mission coordinator Captain Keith M. Donohue said: “Thanks to the phenomenal teamwork and coordination by everyone involved, nine lives were saved.

“Coast Guard crews and personnel train year-round for life-saving situations like this and we take great pleasure in knowing everyone was able to go home safely.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.